Method of making fragmentation bombs



Jan. 22, 1946. J. c. WHITESELL, JR

METHOD OF MAKING FRAGMENTATION BOMBS Original Filed Sept. 4,. 1945muuunnuflfllll illnll INVENTOR JOHN C.- WHI'IESELL, JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1946 METHOD OF MAKING FRAGMENTATION BOMBSJohn C. Whitesell, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor' to Edward G. BuddManufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of PennsylvaniaOriginal application September 4, 1943, Serial No.

501,202. Divided and this application September 27, 1944, Serial No.556,068

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-l.21)

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.501,202, filed September 4, 1943.

This invention relates to that class of munitions known as fragmentationbombs, and particularly to improvements in the construction thereof andin the method of manufacturing the same.

One form of conventional fragmentation bomb embodies a cylindrical tubesurrounded by a spirally wound wire fragmentation element and having atits nose and tail ends cup-shaped castings threaded thereto. Thefunction of these castings is, in addition to supporting the stabilizingelement and the detonators, to provide a means for holding the spiralfragmentation element in place. Such castings, however, do notcontribute to the bombs fragmentation, but, as a matter of fact, sincethey overlap the ends of the cylindrical tube, tend to reduce the amountof possible maximum fragmentation.

The present invention has for its objects a new method of providingfeatures of construction in a fragmentation bomb which will increasefragmentation to a veritable maximum, and an improved and economicalmethod of construction and assembly by means of which fragmentationbombs can be rapidly and easily produced in quantity production.

With the above and other objects in view which will be apparent from thefollowing detailed drawing, to those skilled in the art, the presentinvention consists in certain features of construction and combinationsof parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, and then claimed.

In the drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a view of the fragmentation bomb, partially in section tobetter illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFigure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1, but showing the bomb inthe process of assembly.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the views, the fragmentation bomb constructed in accordancewith the present invention embodies a tubular metal member ID whoseinterior wall forms the explosive chamber, a nose end element II forsupporting a detonating device (not shown), a tail end element I2 forsupporting a finned stabilizing element (not shown), the spirally woundwire fragmentation element I3, and a stream-lining cup I4 for theleading end of the bomb casing.

It is to be noted that the spring or fragmentation element I3, theindividual coils of which may be of square or other suitable shape incrosssection, extends for the full length of the tubular metal memberI0. By so extending the fragmentation element I3 for the full tubelength, the amount of fragmentation is increased to a maximum since itis coextensive with the explosive charge to be contained within the tubeIII.

The various elements described as constituting the bomb casing are soconstructed as to facilitate production in large quantities by simpleoperations.

The metal tubular member after being cut to length is swaged down onboth ends to a diameter to snugly receive the nose and tail and elementsor adaptors II and I2, respectively. The nose end adaptor II is in theform of an internally threaded sleeve and the tail end adaptor I2 is inthe form of an externally threaded shouldered plug. These elements aresuch that they can be produced as screw machine products. The elementsII and I2 snugly fit within the swageddown ends of the tube It) and aresecured in place by arc welding, as indicated by the weld metal at I5and I6, respectively, the welding being such as to provide an integralgas-tight connection between elements I I and I2 and the tube.

The spring or fragmentation element I3, the individual turns thereoffirmly abutting each other, is formed on suitable coiling equipment intwo sections I3a. and I3b, each tapering in diameter at one endaccording to the contour of the adjacent tube end. The coil sections I3a and I 3b, as shown in Figure 3, are slipped on the tubular member I0from its opposite ends into abutting relation. In this position theendmost turns of the coil abut the walls of the adjacent ends of thetube, the endmost turn of the section I3a closely surrounding the noseend adaptor II. The two coil sections are then are Welded together atthe adjacent wire ends as indicated at H in Figures 1 and 2, the excessweld material being ground or filed 01f to present a smooth surfacecontinuous with the coil surface. During the assembly of the coilsections I3a and I St, the free ends may be tacked by arc welding to thetube II] to prevent unwinding or pulling away from the ends of the tube.In the case of the trailing section I3b, the end turn may be weldeddirectly to the tube ID as indicated at I8 in Figure 1, and the endmostturn of the leading sec- In order to better the aerodynamic effect at Vthe nose end of the bomb casing, the streamlining cup 14 is fitted overthe' leadingendotcoil section 13a and may be tack welded in place asindicated by the weld metal .20, oriotherwise secured in place, asdesired.

Suitable handling loops 2.I ;may2be.-se.cured =.to the fragmentationelement l3 as desired.

The principal advantage of .the fragmentation bomb of the presentinvention isthathyiincreasing the length of spring wire whichconstitutes the fragmentation element, a more efiective bomb is producedwith the same tube length-and explosive charge as .is employed in aconventional structure.

A 'further advantage resides in the Iactlthat by reducing the. machinework, through the limination of the conventional end cas'tings,;the unitcost of production isreduce'd.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailedprocedure described without departing from the spirit and substance ofthe .present invention, .the scope of .which is deflnedibyitheappendedmla'im.

What is claimed is:

.In the manufacture of a fragmentation bomb, the steps of graduallydecreasing the diameter of :theen'dsof --a tubular member topredetermined surface contour and length, spirally winding a pair .of.wire :elements to an internal diameter o'fsUbStantiaHy-Lthat of thediameter of the casing with the ;turns 'of each in engagement with eachother andawith the turns at one end of each decreasing in diameter tothe same degree as an end oftthe'tubular-member, telescoping thespirally wound relements over the tubular member from the opposite endsthereof to axially engage the ends thereof with the decreased-diameterends of the tubular member and to register the end of the .wire of onewire element with thecorresponding end of the other wire element, andthen rigidly securing said registeredends of the wire elements together.i

JOHN C. 'WHI IESELL, JR.

